Cargo bracing device

ABSTRACT

A cargo bracing device includes a base having two side plates for rotatably attaching a reel drum, one or more toothed discs attached to the reel drum and controlled to rotate relative to the base with a stop, an operating arm having two legs rotatably attached to the reel drum, a catch device attached to the operating arm and engaged with the toothed disc, and an anchoring device may detachably anchor the catch device to the operating arm for limiting the catch device to slide relative to the legs of the operating arm and for preventing the operating arm from being disengaged from the reel drum. The operating arm includes an opening formed in each leg for detachably engaging with the reel drum and for preventing the cargo from being stolen by the unauthorized persons.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/725,666, filed 20 Mar. 2007, allowed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strapping device or a cargo bracing or tie-down or fastening device, and more particularly to a cargo bracing device including an actuating handle selectively detached or disassembled or disengaged from the cargo bracing device for preventing the cargo bracing device from being operated or actuated by unauthorized persons.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical cargo bracing or tie-down or fastening device or strapping devices comprise two arms pivotally mounted about a reel drum on which are mounted toothed discs which turn with the drum, the first arm includes a first catch engaged with the teeth of the disc teeth for preventing the belt and the reel drum from being rotated reversely and for allowing the belt to be wound onto the reel drum, and the second arm includes a second catch engaged with the teeth of the disc teeth for preventing the belt and the reel drum from being rotated reversely when the belt and the reel drum are pivoting relative to the arms.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,182 to Sunesson, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,883 to Rutzki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,536 to Kamper, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,020 to Kamper, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,606 to Kamper disclose five of the typical devices for tightening and locking load-fastening belts each also comprising two arms pivotally mounted about a reel drum for winding or tighting the belt with the reel drum by pivoting or rotating the arms relative to each other.

However, after the belt is wound or tightened onto the reel drum by the arms, one of the arms or the pivoting arm may not be removed or detached or disassembled or disengaged from the strapping device such that the belt may also be easily unwound or released from the reel drum with the arms by the unauthorized persons. For example, it will be dangerous and the cargo may fall down when the arms are operated or actuated by such as the children inadvertently.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional cargo bracing or tie-down or fastening devices or strapping devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cargo bracing device including an actuating handle selectively detached or disassembled or disengaged from the cargo bracing device for preventing the cargo bracing device from being operated or actuated by unauthorized persons.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a cargo bracing device including a lock device for selectively locking the actuating handle and for preventing the actuating handle from being detached or disassembled or disengaged from the cargo bracing device inadvertently.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cargo bracing device comprising a base including two side plates, the side plates each including an orifice formed therein, a reel drum rotatably engaged in the orifices of the side plates of the base for rotatably attaching the reel drum to the base, at least one toothed disc attached to the reel drum and rotated in concert with the reel drum, and including a plurality of disc teeth provided thereon, a spring-biased stop slidably attached to the base and engaged with the disc teeth of the toothed disc, for limiting the toothed disc and the reel drum to rotate relative to the base in an active direction and for preventing the reel drum from being rotated in a reverse direction relative to the base, an operating arm including two legs rotatably attached to the reel drum, a spring-biased catch device slidably attached to the operating arm and engaged with the disc teeth of the toothed disc, for allowing the toothed disc and the reel drum to be rotated relative to the base by the operating arm in the active direction and for preventing the reel drum from being rotated in the reverse direction relative to the base by the operating arm, and an anchoring device for anchoring the catch device to the operating arm and for limiting the catch device to slide relative to the legs of the operating arm and for preventing the operating arm from being disengaged from the reel drum when required.

The operating arm includes an opening formed in each of the legs for receiving the reel drum and for attaching the legs of the operating arm to the reel drum, and the opening of at least one of the legs includes an open portion for detachably engaging with the reel drum.

The catch device includes two pawls for selectively engaging into the open portion of the opening of the legs and for selectively closing the opened opening of the legs.

The anchoring device includes a latch slidably engaged through the catch device for selectively engaging with the operating arm and for anchoring the catch device to the operating arm.

A spring member is further provided and engaged between the latch and the catch device for biasing and moving the latch from the operating arm.

An actuating member is further provided and attached the catch device and engaged with the latch for actuating the latch to selectively engage with the operating arm. The actuating member may be rotatably attached the catch device with an axle and includes an actuating surface for engaging with the latch.

The actuating surface is a helical actuating surface having a deeper portion and a shallower portion. The actuating member includes a partition provided between the deeper portion and the shallower portion of the actuating surface.

The reel drum includes two drum halves spaced away from each other for forming a strap receiving slot between the drum halves.

The toothed disc include two apertures formed therein for stably receiving the drum halves of the reel drum respectively and for allowing the toothed disc to be rotated in concert with the reel drum.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded of a cargo bracing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the lock device of the cargo bracing device;

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the cargo bracing device;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the cargo bracing device taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the operation of the cargo bracing device; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGS. 4-5, illustrating the other arrangement of the cargo bracing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a cargo bracing device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises two arms or a base 10 and an operating arm 30 to be pivotally coupled together or pivotally mounted about a reel drum 20, for example, the base 10 includes two side walls or plates 11 extended from a lateral or base wall or plate 12, the side plates 11 each include an orifice 13 formed therein for rotatably receiving the reel drum 20, the reel drum 20 includes two drum halves 21 spaced away from each other for forming or defining a strap receiving slot 22 between the two drum halves 21, and one or more (such as two) toothed discs 23 attached or mounted or secured onto the reel drum 20.

For example, the toothed discs 23 each include one or more (such as two) apertures 24 formed therein (FIG. 1) for receiving the end portions of the drum halves 21 of the reel drum 20 respectively and for allowing the toothed discs 23 to be turned or rotated in concert with the reel drum 20. The toothed discs 23 each further include a number of disc teeth 25 provided or formed thereon, and one or more (such as two) clamping or retaining rings 26 are attached or engaged with the reel drum 20, such as engaged with the peripheral depressions (not shown) the reel drum 20 for engaging with the side plates 11 and for positioning the reel drum 20 to the base 10 and for preventing the reel drum 20 from being moved laterally relative to the base 10 and for preventing the reel drum 20 from being disengaged from the base 10.

The base 10 includes a channel 14 formed in each of the side plates 11 for slidably attaching or receiving a spring-biased stop 40 which includes one or more (such as two) limbs 41 for engaging with the disc teeth 25 of the toothed discs 23 and for guiding or limiting the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to rotate relative to the base 10 in one or an active direction only and for preventing the reel drum 20 from being rotated in a reverse direction relative to the base 10 and thus for allowing the reel drum 20 to rotate only in the active direction relative to the base 10. The base 10 includes a spring member 42 attached to the base plate 12 for engaging with the stop 40 and for biasing or forcing the limbs 41 of the stop 40 to engage with the disc teeth 25 of the toothed discs 23 and for guiding or limiting the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to rotate relative to the base 10, and thus for allowing the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to rotate in the active direction relative to the base 10 step by step.

The operating arm 30 includes two legs 31 disposed or arranged parallel to each other, and one or more rods 32 straddled or secured between the legs 31 for reinforcing the legs 31 and for forming a stable or solid structure for the operating arm 30. The legs 31 each include a free end or a mounting portion 33 having an opening 34 formed therein and an open portion 35 formed in the outer portion of the opening 34 of the legs 31 in order to form the opened opening 34 for the legs 31, or the opening 34 of the legs 31 includes an open portion 35, and thus for allowing the end portions of the reel drum 20 to be engaged into the opened opening 34 of the legs 31 respectively, and/or for allowing the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 to be rotatably attached or mounted or secured or engaged onto the reel drum 20.

The operating arm 30 further includes a groove 36 formed in each of the legs 31 for slidably receiving a spring-biased catch device 50 which may be engaged with the disc teeth 25 of the toothed discs 23 for allowing the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to be forced to rotate relative to the base 10 in the active direction by the operating arm 30. One or more (such as two) spring members 52 are engaged or attached or secured to the legs 31 and engaged with the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 and the catch device 50 for biasing or forcing the catch device 50 to engage with the disc teeth 25 of the toothed discs 23 and for allowing the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to be rotated relative to the base 10 by the operating arm 30 in the active direction, or for allowing the operating arm 30 to be rotated freely relative to the reel drum 20 in the reverse direction, but not to be rotated relative to the reel drum 20 in the active direction, and thus for allowing the belt (not shown) to be wound onto the reel drum 20 step by step.

As shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 4-6, the catch device 50 includes one or more (such as two) pawls 51 for selectively extending or engaging into the open portion 35 of the opening 34 of the legs 31 by moving the catch device 50 relative to the legs 31 for selectively closing or blocking the opened opening 34 of the legs 31, or for selectively and detachably securing or retaining the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 to the reel drum 20, and for preventing the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 from being disengaged from the reel drum 20 and the base 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the limbs 41 of the stop 40 may be biased or forced to engage with the disc teeth 25 of the toothed discs 23 by the spring members 42 for limiting and allowing the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to rotate relative to the base 10 in the active direction, i.e. clockwise relative to the base 10, and for preventing the reel drum 20 from being rotated in the reverse direction, i.e. counterclockwise relative to the base 10, or for preventing the belt and the reel drum 20 from being rotated reversely, i.e. counterclockwise relative to the base 10. At this moment, the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 may be forced to rotate relative to the base 10 in the active direction, i.e. in the clockwise direction relative to the base 10, by the operating arm 30 and the catch device 50.

The operating arm 30 may be rotated reversely, i.e. counterclockwise relative to the base 10 when the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 are positioned or latched by the limbs 41 of the stop 40, and thus for allowing the toothed discs 23 and the reel drum 20 to be forced to rotate relative to the base 10 in the active direction, i.e. clockwise relative to the base 10, by the operating arm 30 and the catch device 50 step by step, in order to wind the belt onto the reel drum 20 step by step. After the belt has been tightly wound onto the reel drum 20 by the operating arm 30, or when required, the catch device 50 may be moved or pulled against the spring members 52 to selectively disengage the pawls 51 from the open portion 35 or the opening 34 of the legs 31, and thus to allow the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 to be selectively disengaged from the reel drum 20 and the base 10 or separated from the cargo bracing device 1, and thus to prevent the operating arm 30 of the cargo bracing device 1 from being operated or actuated by unauthorized persons.

It is to be noted that the typical cargo bracing or tie-down or fastening devices or strapping devices failed to provide an operating arm 30 having two legs 31 selectively disengageable from the reel drum 20 and the base 10 after the belt has been tightly wound onto the reel drum 20 by the operating arm 30, for preventing the cargo bracing device 1 from being operated or actuated by the unauthorized persons and for preventing the cargo from being stolen by the unauthorized persons. The above-described structure has been disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/725,666, filed 20 Mar. 2007, which may be taken as a reference for the present invention.

The cargo bracing device 1 further includes a locking or securing or anchoring means or device 60 for selectively and releaseably or detachably anchoring the catch device 50 to the legs 31 of the operating arm 30, and for limiting the catch device 50 to slide relative to the legs 31 of the operating arm 30, and for preventing the pawls 51 of the catch device 50 from being detached or disassembled or disengaged from the open portion 35 or the opening 34 of the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 inadvertently, and for preventing the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 from being disengaged from the reel drum 20 and the base 10 inadvertently. For example, the anchoring means or device 60 includes an actuating member 61 rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the catch device 50 with an axle 62, and the actuating member 61 includes an inclined or helical actuating surface 63 formed or provided in the bottom portion of the actuating member 61 (FIG. 2) and having a deeper end or portion 64, and a shallower end or portion 65, and a partition 66 formed or provided between the two ends 64, 65 of the helical actuating surface 63.

The anchoring means or device 60 further includes a latch 67 slidably engaged into or through an orifice 54 of the catch device 50 for selectively engaging with either of the rods 32 or the operating arm 30 and for selectively anchoring or securing or locking the catch device 50 to the operating arm 30 and for preventing the catch device 50 from being moved relative to the operating arm 30 and thus for preventing the pawls 51 of the catch device 50 from being detached or disassembled or disengaged from the open portion 35 or the opening 34 of the legs 31 and thus for preventing the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 from being disengaged from the reel drum 20 and the base 10 inadvertently. A spring member 68 may be engaged onto the latch 67 and engaged between the latch 67 and the catch device 50 for biasing and moving the latch 67 from the rods 32 or the operating arm 30.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inclined or helical actuating surface 63 of the actuating member 61 is engaged with the latch 67 for actuating the latch 67 to selectively engage with either of the rods 32 or the operating arm 30 (FIG. 5) when the shallower end or portion 65 of the inclined or helical actuating surface 63 of the actuating member 61 is engaged with the latch 67, and for allowing the latch 67 to be selectively disengaged from the rods 32 or the operating arm 30 (FIG. 4) when the deeper end or portion 64 of the actuating member 61 is engaged with the latch 67. The partition 66 may be selectively engaged with the latch 67 for limiting the rotational movement of the actuating member 61 relative to the latch 67. It is to be noted that the engagement of the latch 67 with the rods 32 or the operating arm 30 is arranged to allow the catch device 50 to slightly move relative to the operating arm 30 and to allow the catch device 50 to be selectively engaged with or disengaged from the disc teeth 25 of the toothed discs 23, and is arranged to prevent the pawls 51 of the catch device 50 from being completely detached or disassembled or disengaged from the open portion 35 or the opening 34 of the legs 31.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the latch or latch 67 may be slidably engaged into or through another orifice 55 of the catch device 50 for selectively and suitably engaging with either of the rods 32 or the operating arm 30 and for selectively anchoring or securing or anchoring the catch device 50 to the operating arm 30 and for preventing the catch device 50 from being moved relative to the operating arm 30 and thus for preventing the pawls 51 of the catch device 50 from being detached or disassembled or disengaged from the open portion 35 or the opening 34 of the legs 31 and thus for preventing the legs 31 of the operating arm 30 from being disengaged from the reel drum 20 and the base 10 inadvertently.

Accordingly, the cargo bracing device in accordance with the present invention includes an actuating handle selectively detached or disassembled or disengaged from the cargo bracing device for preventing the cargo bracing device from being operated or actuated by unauthorized persons, and includes a lock device for selectively anchoring the actuating handle and for preventing the actuating handle from being detached or disassembled or disengaged from the cargo bracing device inadvertently.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A cargo bracing device comprising: a base including two side plates, said side plates each including an orifice formed therein, a reel drum rotatably engaged in said orifices of said side plates of said base for rotatably attaching said reel drum to said base, at least one toothed disc attached to said reel drum and rotated in concert with said reel drum, and including a plurality of disc teeth provided thereon, a spring-biased stop slidably attached to said base and engaged with said disc teeth of said at least one toothed disc, for limiting said at least one toothed disc and said reel drum to rotate relative to said base in an active direction and for preventing said reel drum from being rotated in a reverse direction relative to said base, an operating arm including two legs rotatably attached to said reel drum, a spring-biased catch device slidably attached to said operating arm and engaged with said disc teeth of said at least one toothed disc, for allowing said at least one toothed disc and said reel drum to be rotated relative to said base by said operating arm in the active direction and for preventing said reel drum from being rotated in the reverse direction relative to said base by said operating arm, and means for anchoring said catch device to said operating arm and for limiting said catch device to slide relative to said legs of said operating arm and for preventing said operating arm from being disengaged from said reel drum.
 2. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating arm includes an opening formed in each of said legs for receiving said reel drum and for attaching said legs of said operating arm to said reel drum, and said opening of at least one of said legs includes an open portion for detachably engaging with said reel drum.
 3. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said catch device includes two pawls for selectively engaging into said open portion of said opening of said legs and for selectively closing said opened opening of said legs.
 4. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring means includes a latch slidably engaged through said catch device for selectively engaging with said operating arm and for anchoring said catch device to said operating arm.
 5. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a spring member is engaged between said latch and said catch device for biasing and moving said latch from said operating arm.
 6. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein an actuating member is attached the catch device and engaged with said latch for actuating said latch to selectively engage with said operating arm.
 7. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said actuating member is rotatably attached the catch device with an axle and includes an actuating surface for engaging with said latch.
 8. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said actuating surface is a helical actuating surface having a deeper portion and a shallower portion.
 9. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said actuating member includes a partition provided between said deeper portion and said shallower portion of said actuating surface.
 10. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reel drum includes two drum halves spaced away from each other for forming a strap receiving slot between said drum halves.
 11. The cargo bracing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one toothed disc include two apertures formed therein for receiving said drum halves of said reel drum respectively and for allowing said at least one toothed disc to be rotated in concert with said reel drum. 